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rynop2000 Author

Level 1

39 points

16" MacBook Pro blue pixel aliasing on external display

I have a new MBP 2019 16" with the AMD Radeon Pro 5500M 8 GB vid card.

When I plugged my LG UltraFine 5K display in via USB-C I noticed strange light blue aliasing around font and images.

Example (bad):

Here is the same text (in same window) but on the MBP built-in retina display:

It doesn't show up great here, but its very obvious to the naked eye.

It happens on everything (not just font):

What is strange is I do NOT see this issue if I change the display resolution scale to `2560x1440` or below in Display Settings:

I know it is NOT a problem with the external monitor, because when I plug it into my late 2018 15" MBP I do not see the problem.

I have a second 4K LG monitor plugged in at the same time, and it is not exhibiting this issue (no matter what resolution scale is selected).

I've tried:

- Disabling font smoothing

- Restarting

- Changing monitor color profiles

- Using f.lux

- Only plugging in the UltraFine 5k

Any ideas what this is called or how I might fix? This is SUPER annoying.

MacBook Pro 16", macOS 10.15

Posted on Dec 20, 2019 10:21 AM

Best reply

Podizzler

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Jan 22, 2020 8:53 AM

Brought it into the Apple Store again today. Associate had heard of the issue anecdotally. He acknowledges that it's some sort of bug; whether it's software or hardware is not clear yet. I have confirmed that the problem will not present itself if About This Mac does not show the AMD graphics card listed. Apple is not aware of how to fix this issue yet, at least in a widespread manner; I recommend if you're reading this to open the Feedback Assistant app and submit a bug report directly to engineering (if this isn’t available, maybe you need to go to https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/ Hopefully they will pressure test the issue and find that it's software related, and hopefully the fix will be presented in the form of a software update.

With the following steps, I was able to reproduce the issue on all three floor machines in my local Apple Store (one out of three only showed the issue flittingly):

- Click Apple > About This Mac

- If Graphics card section only reads the built-in Intel, open as many graphic-intensive programs as possible, such as the Adobe Suite, or even GarageBand.

- Close and reopen About This Mac. Make sure AMD Radeon Graphics card is shown in the list.

- Open Display preference pane.

- Resolution > Default for display

- Check True Tone on.

Now take note of cyan or baby blue aberration that happens on white lines on black, white type on black, or sometimes thin black lines on white. See: left vertical line of cursor, move slowly left and right. Top line of battery icon will show cyan, especially is Dark Mode is activated.

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36 replies

rynop2000 Author

Level 1

39 points

Feb 17, 2020 6:43 AM in response to Timo_C130

After LOTS of back and forth with Apple support I was unable to find a resolution. The battery dying while plugged into power was something I could no longer live with, so I decided to return hoping that my laptop was from a bad lot. My new one comes in roughly a week, will let everyone know if the problem exists with my new one.

FWIW I'm on my late 2018 MBP until I get my new 16" (work laptop). I'm a software engineer so I'm on the thing all day. Crazy thing is my 2018 MBP runs my workloads MUCH quieter. The 16" fan would run almost constantly and SUPER loud. Same workload on the 2018 and the fan does not even run.

My concern is its a hardware design flaw but I hope I'm wrong.

In an attempt to narrow this down, could everyone that has the issue respond with the following:

1) Processor (2.6 6-core OR 2.3 8-core)

2) Graphics card (5300M, 5500M 4GB, 5500M 8GB)

3) Do you have problems with battery dying while plugged in? (or at least battery draining while plugged in)

4) Does your fan run frequently?

5) Do you typically have an external display(s) attached? If yes, list specifics AND how they are attached (usb-c to what).

I'll start:

1) 2.3, 8-core

2) 5500M 8GB

3) Yes

4) Yes

5) Yes. 27" LG UltraFine 5K (USB-C to USB-C) , LG 4K UHD 27UD88 (USBC-Display Port)

Feb 17, 2020 10:21 AM in response to Podizzler

Sent a report trough the Feedback assistant app as we speak. Also sent the the same report trough the feedback option on the apple website.

For me the same issue. Only with true tone and night mode this issue is visible especially in dark mode. I was also able to reproduce the problem both on the internal display as on my LG ultrafine 27". On both displays I can make the problem go away by selecting a certain 'scale', but the resolution is different for the external display... As it is related to a certain resolution I really hope this is just a software bug... Just came from a 13" macbook pro with faulty display....

Mar 9, 2020 9:06 AM in response to rynop2000

This is what I'm experiencing on the built-in screen of my MacBook Pro 16", too. On my external display everything is fine.

I'm also using the scaling option for the built-in screen, so I have all pixels used 1:1 - TrueTone and Night Shift is on.

rynop2000 Author

Level 1

39 points

Mar 28, 2020 11:11 AM in response to rynop2000

The issue, at least for me, has seemed to have been addressed with the recent MacOS 10.15.4 update.

As a bonus, my UltraFine 5k no longer loses its brightness setting after the display powers off.

rynop2000 Author

Level 1

39 points

Jan 2, 2020 2:22 PM in response to Podizzler

Same here. Fixes it on my LG UltraFine 5K external display as well.

Can someone from apple please advise?

TailsDog

Level 1

18 points

Feb 17, 2020 6:48 AM in response to rynop2000

About the overheating there is a thread here about it: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250878229

rynop2000 Author

Level 1

39 points

Jan 5, 2020 7:26 PM in response to Podizzler

Thank you for taking the time to do that.

This issue is always present for me on my external display. Here is my `About this Mac`:

Displays:

Jan 17, 2020 10:31 PM in response to st235

First time reproducing issue with True Tone off. Cyan aliasing happening around black swatch square. UI is Adobe Illustrator. @rynop2000 what did Apple support say?

Jan 2, 2020 7:47 AM in response to Podizzler

Update: Today, I was able to reproduce the issue with True Tone checked. Unchecking got rid of it this time.

Graphics cards, FYI:

AMD Radeon Pro 5500M 8 GB

Intel UHD Graphics 630 1536 MB

rynop2000 Author

Level 1

39 points

Jan 13, 2020 10:24 AM in response to Podizzler

I totally get the dying battery issue as well. While on the phone with apple support working through issue in the OP, I got down to 33% battery in 30 minutes!?!?

Jan 13, 2020 7:47 PM in response to rynop2000

Yeah, do let me know what they recommend doing to solve these issues!

rynop2000 Author

Level 1

39 points

Jan 20, 2020 6:12 AM in response to Podizzler

No response yet unfortunately.

zachw

Level 1

4 points

Jan 22, 2020 10:56 PM in response to rynop2000

Having the same issue but on the 16" MacBook Pro display itself. Hoping a software update fixes it.

Jan 30, 2020 9:20 AM in response to Podizzler

Started this thread on the graphics card manufacturer website. Upvoting or replying may help raise visibility.

https://community.amd.com/thread/248331

TailsDog

Level 1

18 points

Feb 12, 2020 5:39 AM in response to TylerLast

Yeah I was thinking that it could be a bug in True Tone/Night Shift but then why would it work ok with the integrated GPU? Anyway it's a bit odd, I will try f.lux for the mean time, thanks.

16" MacBook Pro blue pixel aliasing on external display